A Quest of Heroes (Book #1 in the Sorcerer's Ring)

an
elaborate design and soaring high. The walls were lined with arched
stained-glass windows, and if possible, even more people were crammed into this
room. There must have been a thousand of them, and the room positively swarmed.
Banquet tables stretched across the room, as far as the eye could see, people
sitting on endlessly long benches, dining. Between these was a narrow aisle
with a long, red carpet, leading to a platform on which sat the royal throne.
The crowd parted ways as Reece and Thor walked down the carpet, toward the
King.
    “And
where do you think you’re taking him?” came a hostile, nasally voice.
    Thor
looked up to see a man standing over him, not much older than he was, dressed
in a royal garb, clearly a prince, blocking their way and scowling down.
    “It’s
father’s orders,” Reece snapped back. “Better get out of our way, unless you
want to defy them.”
    The
prince stood his ground, frowning, looking as if he’d bit into something rotten
as he examined Thor. Thor did not like him at all: there was something he did
not trust about him, with his lean, unkind features and eyes which never
stopped darting.
    “This
is not a hall for commoners,” the prince replied. “You should leave the
riffraff outside, where it came from.”
    Thor
felt his chest tighten. Clearly this man hated him, and he had no idea why.
    “Shall
I tell father you said that?” Reece defended, standing his ground.
    Grudgingly,
the prince turned and stormed away.
    “Who
was that?” Thor asked Reece, as they continued walking.
    “Never
mind him,” Reece replied. “He’s just my older brother—or one of them. Gareth.
The oldest. Well, not really the oldest—he’s just the oldest legitimate one.
Kendrick, who you met on the battleground—he is really the oldest.”
    “Why
does Gareth hate me? I don’t even know him.”
    “Don’t
worry—he doesn’t only reserve his hate for you. He hates everybody. And anyone
who gets close to the family, he sees as a threat. Never mind him. He is but
one of many.”
    As
they continued walking, Thor felt increasingly grateful to Reece, who, he was
realizing, was becoming a true friend.
    “Why
did you stand up for me?” Thor asked, curious.
    Reece
shrugged.
    “I
was ordered to bring you to father. Besides, you’re my sparring partner. And
it’s been a long time since someone came through my age here who I thought
could be worthy.”
    “But
what makes me worthy?” Thor asked.
    “It’s
the fighter’s spirit. It cannot be faked.”
    As
they continued to walk down the aisle, towards the king, Thor felt as if he’d
always known him—it was strange, but in some ways he felt as if Reece were his
own brother. He had never had a brother—not a real brother—and it felt good.
    “My
other brothers are not like him, don’t worry,” Reece said as people flocked
around them, trying to catch a glimpse of Thor. “My brother Kendrick, the one
you met—he’s the best of all. He’s my half-brother, but I consider him a true
brother—even more than Gareth. Kendrick is like a second father to me. He will
be to you, too, I am sure of it. There is nothing he would not do for me—or for
anyone. He is the most loved of our royal family among the people. It is a
great loss he is not allowed to become king.”
    “You
said ‘brothers.’ You have another brother, too?” Thor asked.
    Reece
took a deep breath.
    “I
have one other, yes. We are not that close. Godfrey. Unfortunately, he wastes
his days in the alehouse, with the commoners. He’s not a fighter, like us. He’s
not interested in it—he’s not interested in anything, really. Except ale—and
the ladies.”
    Suddenly,
they stopped short, as a girl blocked their way. Thor stood there, transfixed.
Perhaps a couple of years older than him, she stared back with blue, almond
eyes, perfect skin, and long, strawberry hair. She was dressed in a white satin
dress, bordered by lace, and her eyes positively glowed, dancing with joy and
mischief. She locked her eyes on his, and held him completely captivated. He
couldn’t move if he wanted to. She was the most beautiful person he had ever
seen.
    She
smiled, displaying perfect white teeth—and as if he weren’t transfixed already,
her smile held him there, lit up his heart in a single gesture. He never felt
so alive.
    Thor
stood there, unable to speak. Unable to breathe. It was the first time in his
life he’d ever felt this way.
    “Aren’t
you going to introduce